UPDATED B&Q reacted quickly to a positive Coronavirus test of a staff member, asking customers to immediately leave its store in Wallasey.  Now a second store, in Wales, has been closed. Read more - open to all

The Parasene brand has been bought by a former employee, John Cartwright, the owner of Fireside Products Ltd. Read more - members only

Dobbies has signed up as the leisure anchor at the planned Designer Outlet Cotswolds at J9 of the M5, close to Ashchurch. It is planned to open in 2022. Read more - members only

Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland can now move to phase one of easing the lockdown. Garden centres will be permitted to reopen from Friday 29^th May. Read more - open to all

Nicola Sturgeon has announced that Scottish garden centres are likely be permitted to reopen from 28th May as part of limited easing of the lockdown. Read more - open to all

Kingfisher, owner of B&Q and Screwfix, has sufficient cash reserves to withstand a long period of reduced sales, according to its latest quarterly report. Read more - members only

The Gardens Group is putting excess stock to good use in support of key workers and everyone doing their bit to stay home throughout the lockdown, donating unsold plants to carers, hospital staff and teachers. Read more - open to all

B&Q has reopened 14 stores as a trial, with the garden centres selling a range of self-service plants. A range of plant bundles are also available from DIY.com. Read more - open to all

Hozelock announces the appointment of John Grayson as Commercial Director for UK and Ireland, Scandinavia and Southern Hemisphere. Read more - open to all

Containers of garden furniture, delayed by the Coronavirus lockdown in China, are arriving in the UK as retailers are closed leaving LOFA members facing crippling demurrage and other costs. Read more - open to all

Government classifies DIY and Hardware as essential. B&Q closes for a day as it prepares to provide only essential products. Homebase remains open but its website is unavailable. Read more - open to all

The HTA calls on companies to sign an open letter to the Prime Minister calling for support for UK ornamental growers whose businesses are threatened by the closure of garden centres at this, the worst possible time. Read more - open to all

As restaurants on garden centres are closed in the battle to contain Coronavirus, HTA chairman James Barnes writes to members promising HTA support and announcing a weekly survey on trading. Read more - open to all

Following the announcement by the French government to close all non-essential public places, effective from today, all 221 of Kingfisher’s Castorama and Brico Dépôt stores in France have closed for a month. Read more - members only

Given the facts that the COVID-19 virus is categorised as a pandemic, that cases in the UK are rising and set to rise further over the coming weeks, Hortipak have put the following precautionary measures in place... Read more - open to all

UK based HydroGarden has merged with leading German hydroponics wholesaler, Grow In, based in Berlin, creating the largest hydroponics wholesaler in the European market. Read more - members only

May was the sunniest on record and the driest in England at only 17% of the average, leading to a call to cut back on paddling pools and sprinklers. Read more - members only

B&M has revealed like-for-like sales grew +22.7% in the first 8 weeks of the new financial year, driven by exceptionally strong DIY and gardening. Read more - members only

Broil King BBQs aim to become the dominant market leader in the UK luxury BBQ sector within 3 years.  Read more - members only

Unprecedented consumer demand for growing media, even during the lockdown, means manufacturers are struggling to keep up with deliveries. Read more - open to all

Ivyline, best known for its range of trend-led indoor plant pots, has launched Cleaner Retail to help retailers get ready to open, remain compliant in regards to hygiene and social distancing. Read more - open to all

On Saturday 25th April, Homebase says it will be trialling the opening of 20 stores, with strict controls in place to ensure shopping is safe for everyone. Read more - open to all

Three West Sussex growers: Farplants, Hills and Newey have donated plants for an initiative run by Plant Box to ‘give something back’ to the people doing such an amazing job on the Coronavirus front line. Read more - open to all

Fire broke out at Johnsons Garden Centre near Boston on Sunday, causing smoke to billow above the site. Read more - members only

B&M has decided to close 49 stores temporarily in light of current trading conditions out of a total 656 in the UK. Read more - open to all

In light of the Prime Minister’s latest restrictions of movement to control Coronavirus, Blue Diamond and Rosebourne decide to close but Dobbies says it ‘continues to operate our stores to serve our local communities’. Read more - open to all

Klondyke, Millbrook and number of leading garden centres have announced that they are closing, doing what’s best for staff and customers during the Coronavirus crisis. Others are set to follow. Read more - open to all

Bird seed manufacturer Johnston & Jeff is flying high with the announcement of a £1m expansion of its factory at Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire. Read more - members only

2018 results just published for Wyevale Garden Centres Capital show that the 145 garden centres were sold for £430m and that a substantial dividend has been paid to its shareholder. Read more - members only

Blue Diamond celebrated a successful year of growth with a night of pizzazz and glamour, naming Harlow (Acorn) and Derby (Oak) as its garden centres of the year. Read more - members only